Davidwnl at 05:08, 11 April 2025

2025-04-11T05:08:37Z

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{{distinguish|Aaradhna}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Aradhna
| origin = [[Cincinnati]], Ohio, US
| genre = [[World music|World]] / [[Fusion (music)|Fusion]]
| years_active = 2000–present
| label = [[Independent record label|Independent]]
| associated_acts = [[Miranda Stone]], Peter Hicks, [[Jim Fiest]]
| website = {{URL|aradhnamusic.com}}
| current_members = Chris Hale<br/>Peter Hicks<br/>Travis McAfee
}}

'''Aradhna''' is a band that fuses traditional Indian devotional music ([[bhajans]]) with Christ-centered themes, composed primarily in the [[Hindi]] language, in addition to [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Bihari people|Bihari]], [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] and [[Braj Bhasha]] languages.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070204053953/http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/03/stories/2007020316190200.htm The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Wait for fusion music full of surprises]</ref> The band members include Chris Hale (lead vocals, sitar), Peter Hicks (acoustic guitar, sitar) and Travis McAfee (bass). Tabla Player Jim Fiest regularly plays with the band.

==History==

Aradhna was created in 2000 when Chris Hale and Peter Hicks who had been touring India with their band Olio returned to the US to record Aradhna's debut album 'Deep Jale' (Light the Lamp). The name Aradhna is from Hindi, meaning 'Adoration'. The band-members were interested in creating an authentic sound for Indian Christ-centered worship which had so far relied heavily on Western hymns and contemporary worship. To make this possible the band turned to India's [[bhajan]] singers and the style of Indian devotion known as '[[bhakti]]', expressing faith in 'Yeshu Khrist' (Jesus Christ).

Hale assumes primarily songwriting duties due to his fluency in Hindi. In addition to Hale's compositions, the band features songs composed by Peter John, an Indian musician from New Delhi whose Christ-centered [[bhajans]] caught Hale's attention. The band involves several Indian musicians in their performances and recordings as well.

In May 2016, Oxford University Press published "The Oxford Handbook of Music and World Christianities" which featured a chapter featuring Aradhna's music, entitled, "Are Western Christian Bhajans Reverse Missions Music?" by Christopher Dicran Hale.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199859993.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780199859993-e-10|isbn = 978-0-19-985999-3|doi = 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199859993.013.10|year = 2015|editor1-last = Dueck|editor1-first = Jonathan|editor2-first = Suzel Ana|editor2-last = Reily|last1 = Hale|first1 = Christopher Dicran|title = Are Western Christian Bhajans "Reverse" Mission Music?}}</ref>

==Musical style==

Aradhna has evolved in its musical style primarily from the [[fusion music]] that Olio played and delving deeper into Northern Indian classical music ([[Hindustani music]]) that Hale was learning under the discipleship of Partho Chatterjee ([[sitar]]). Hicks, who played electric guitar, also was learning sarod under the discipleship of Calcutta's Partho Sarothy. Travis McAfee added electric bass to this duo in the recording of their debut album, bringing his more traditional western sensibilities and experience to the group. Five years after the formation of the band, Fiona Hicks (married to Peter) added Hindustani violin, having studied Northern Indian classical music under [[Kala Ramnath]].

==Critical acclaim==

For a band that has ventured into uncharted territory, the critical acclaim in North America, the UK and India has been favorable. <br>
Performing across the US from LA to NY, Aradhna has found audiences on University campuses as guest artists, headlining world stages at summer music festivals in the US and Europe. They've also found more religious venues to be quite welcoming with performances in yoga studios, churches like [[St Martin in the Bull Ring|St Martin's]] as well as in Hindu and Buddhist temples and Sikh [[Gurdwaras]] alike.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eastandwest.co.uk/aradhnatempletour.htm |title=East and West {{!}}{{!}} Aradhna |access-date=2008-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803182359/http://www.eastandwest.co.uk/aradhnatempletour.htm |archive-date=2008-08-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Reviews have compared Hicks's vocals to [[Peter Gabriel]]'s.<ref>[http://www.colossiansthreesixteen.com/archives/1946 Colossians Three Sixteen » Amrit Vani (Album Review)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080330231300/http://www.colossiansthreesixteen.com/archives/1946 |date=March 30, 2008 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.tollbooth.org/2008/reviews/aradhna.html Reviews of The Phantom Tollbooth]</ref> Aradhna has performed with talented guest artists like [[Jim Fiest]] on both recordings and tours.

==Discography==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Title
! Year
|-
| Deep Jalé
| 2000
|-
| Marga Darshan
| 2002
|-
| Satsang
| 2004
|-
|-
| Amrit Vani
| 2007
|-
| Namaste Saté
| 2011
|-
| Sapna
| 2012
|-
| Live in Concert
| 2013
|}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.aradhnamusic.com/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080617171404/http://www.colossiansthreesixteen.com/archives/2118 Peter Hicks Colossians Three Sixteen Interview]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:American world music groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Cincinnati]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 2000]]

Aradhna - Revision history

Davidwnl at 05:08, 11 April 2025